Normal life was affected at Longleng town on Tuesday following a 12-hour bandh called by 22 aggrieved villages under Longleng circle and spearheaded by Hukphang, Orangkong and Bhumnyu (HOB) youth organization Longleng town against the government’s move to go ahead with the foundation stone laying programme of government polytechnic at Yungho Yongnyah Longleng.
Roads at Longleng town wore a deserted look, government offices, bank, educational institutions and business establishments remained closed while vehicular movement came to a grinding halt during the total bandh from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Hundreds of volunteers were deployed at various locations to enforce total bandh, which passed off peacefully without any untoward incident.
Besides medical, military, police, media and fire and emergency service, the movement of pedestrian and vehicles was also restricted during total shutdown.
Police, IRB personnel and officials from district administration were also deployed at various places around the town to ensure that no untoward incident occurred.
Foundation stone laid for polytechnic
Parliamentary secretary Technical Education, N Thomas Lotha, on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for government polytechnic institute at Yungho Yongnyah under Longleng district.
Speaking on the occasion, Thomas Lotha said that laying of foundation stone alone was not enough, but making it one of the best polytechnic institutes in the state. In this regard, he said land owners and the area people needed to create congenial atmosphere for the department to carry out the construction and other developmental activities at the earliest to make this institute a reality.
Further, he appealed to the responsible public leaders from Phom community and public in general to cooperate with the government to bring much needed development to Longleng district.
In order to bring development to the district, Thomas said the Phom people should understand to work with the government of the day.
Parliamentary secretary land resource development and excise, BS Nganlang, thanked the state government and department of technical education for the concern shown for the development of backward area. He also requested the public to extend full cooperation till the completion of work.
Others who spoke on the occasion included deputy commissioner (DC) Longleng, Phom Students Conference (PSC) president, Tamlu Yongnyah Namsang Area president and village chairmen from Yongshei, Nyang, Yongam and Yongnyah.
The programme was chaired by technical education director, Er. Arjun Singh. Secretary department of higher and technical education, C Merio Tsanglao, delivered welcome speech while vote of thanks was proposed by technical education project director, Tiakaba Amer. Yongnyah Hongnyah students’ union presented special song.